People's Party floor leader Rep. Kim Dong-cheol called for naming a special counsel to look into a scandal involving the nation's spy agency and ex-President Lee Myung-bak, Thursday.

The former conservative president, who was in office from 2008 to 2013, is under growing suspicion that he made his core aides create a favorable online atmosphere using the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the military. The NIS is also suspected of creating a "blacklist" and "white list" of entertainers.

The day before, the prosecution questioned Choo Myeong-ho, a former director of the NIS under Lee, for his alleged leading role in spreading groundless rumors about liberal Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

"The illegal activities of the NIS were reported to Cheong Wa Dae," Kim said. "Lee's political maneuvers against his rivals undermined constitutional values. I propose an investigation of the cases through a special counsel."

Kim emphasized the gravity of the case, saying the centrist party is a qualified group to recommend special prosecutors. "An investigation into the top spy agency should not be a subject of political strife. The People's Party will take the helm in reforming the NIS."

In line with President Moon Jae-in's iconic initiative of eradicating "old evils" accumulated under his conservative predecessors, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea has urged the questioning of Lee. However, the two conservative parties ― the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and the Bareun Party ― have called the ruling camp's move "political revenge."

With the People's Party's 40 lawmakers backing the formation of an independent counsel team in the 299-seat National Assembly plenary session, a bill to push for it in cooperation with the 121-seat DPK and the six-seat Justice Party will pass.

Before the session, however, the liberals are challenged to persuade the LKP, which is going all-out to protect Lee. The bill requires approval of Rep. Kwon Seong-dong of the LKP, who chairs the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Last winter, the Assembly passed the special counsel motion to investigate the massive scandal involving ex-President Park Geun-hye.